Construction of extensible towers



H. L. CHRISTIE.

CONSTRUCTION 0F EXTENSIBLE TOWERS.

APPLICATION man JUNE 9,1919.

1 ,426,276 9316111611 Aug. ,15, 1922.

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H. L. CHRISTIE.

CONSTRUCTION 0F EXTENSIBLE TOWERS. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 9.1919.

1,42,276. Patented Aug. 15, 1922,

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rarest ortica-f HANS I.. CHRISTIE, 0E PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA,vAssIciNoR 0E ONE-FOURTH To oIIARLEs H. CLARK, CNE-FOURTH To`nov/'AanREACH; AND ONE-,ECURTH To EREDERICK s'IIAEEER, ALL orPITTsRURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

CONSTRUCTION or EXTENSIRLE TOWERS.

a device of this character which is either stationary or mounted upon anautotruck or other suitable motor vehicle and in which the search-lightis entirely enclosed when in transit, but which is readily accessiblefor examination or any other purpose.v The tower is constructed ofsections connected in suchv a way that they may be successively elevatedand locked in position so that the search-light can be elevated to andsecurely supported at its maximum height or any intermediate heightbetween such maximum height and its lowest position. I accomplish thisby means of the device hereinafter vmore specifically described,references being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof,in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device,

the solid lines showing the structure encased, and the dotted linesshowing the tower elevated.

Figure 2 is an end view of the structure, the tower in elevated positionupon its truck and outrigging foundations.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail of portions of two sections showing thelocking mechanism..

Referring to said drawings, l is a truck or vehicle of any suitableconstruction having mounted thereon a generator 2 which is preferablyoperated from the auto engine when an auto truck is used. A tower formedof series of sections 3 which are capable ot being telescoped one withinthe other, and are capable of being elevated successively, and when inthis elevated position, locled by the mechanism 1, shown in Fig. 3.- Thesaid truck includes or is provided with a casing or body portion X, themiddle section of which constitutes an enclosure or receptacle for theseveral sections of the tower L. CHRISTIE, ay

Speccationof Letters Patent.l Patented Aug. 15,192.2. Applicationineai'une 9, i919. serial No. 302,894.. Y

when, collapsed, the yrear sectionfe'nclosing th'e'rygen'erator as shownin F ig. 1. The saidk .casingy isalsoprovided with a top or platform 10,on `which the vsearch light 11 is mounted, the said top serving asa roofor covering-.for the structure when the several `6o sections arecollapsed, a doorY is provided the side ot the'casinQ-to give access tothe y interior thereoi.` rihe said'locling mechanism comprises thelevers 13, the lower lends ofwhich are pivotally secured to'respectively the brackets or lubsV Z7, b, lsecuredfto the side. .piecesof the outer sections-:respectively thereof. The upper yends kof saidle# versl are pivotally connected' -to the arms fc, the inner ends ofwhich respectively are provided with rollers 14 adapted tov travel' lonthe guide 15, and are connected to the toggle members "c which Iareprovided alsov with rollers 16. The lower end of said toggle members ispivotally connected ,tothe voperating rod d the lower end of which isconnected to the cam plate e mounted on headed boss mounted onsaid studyadapted to receive the lever Vor handle @which `is adapted to operatethe toggle members for the purpose of locking and unlocking the vthelstud f, the said cam having a square sections. This operation isaccomplished by throwing'the lever or handle 7L so as to bring the cam eand rod Z into the position shown in dottedlines Fig. 3, which positionshows the levers 13 withdrawn from beneath the lugs 17 on the ends oftheside pieces of the inner sections permitting the said inner sec- Y'tions successively to descendwhen the sevv in transit are securelyattached tothe sides of the machine as shown in Fig. 1, the rearsupports being .disposed within recessesin the rear portions of thelcasingw at each side thereof. When the tower is elevated these supportsare arranged at right angles'to the device andv are-anchored to theground as shown in ii ig. 2 to give stability to thel tower whenelevated. In operating the tower the first section is raised byoperating the hoist'- vv erates'and with vguide rollers 9 to enable theysame to be readily hoisted. 12-12 are outrigging supports which when thedevice is` ing drum and when the bottom of said section vis* inhorizontal alignment with the top of the next succeeding section thesaid sections are locked together by the locking` mechanism heretoforedescribed, that is, by operating the handle it and throwing the levers13 under the lugs 17, the second section is thenv raised and locked in asimilar manner, and so on until the ultimate height of the tower isreached. ln lowering the several sections the bottom section telescopesfirst and each succeeding section thereafter until finally the searchlight is lowered into the car and the roof or top` is closed.

Having ,described my invention, what l claim and desire to secure byLetters Pat ent, is:

l. A portable-extensible tower comprising atrucl, mounted on wheelshaving a casing or body portion, a series of extensible sectionssupnorted onsaid truck, the casing constituting a receptacle for thesaid sections when collapsed, the upper section having a platform,avsearch light mounted on said platform, the said platform forming theroof or cover of the structure when the said sections are collapsed.

2. A portable extensible tower comprising a truck mounted on wheelshaving a casing, a series of extensible sections supported on saidtruck, the said casing constituting a receptacle for said sections whencollapsed, the upper section carrying` a platform on which av searchlight is mounted,v the said platform formino1 the roof or cover of thestructure when the said sections are collapsed, a` continuous flexiblemeans for hoisting the several sections successively and means to lockeach section to the other successively, including tonele members7 leversconnected therewith adapted to engage under the upper section when saidsection is in raised position.

ln testimony` whereof, l have hereunto signed my name in the presence oftwo subscribing` witnesses.

HANS L. CllRlSTlE. In the presence of ALEX. S. MAISON, JOHN H. rioNEY.

